Policy & Regulations

This channel includes news coverage of healthcare policy and regulations set by Congress, the states, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and medical associations and societies.

Catholic hospital sued for refusing to perform emergency abortion on a hemorrhaging patient
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing Providence St. Joseph Hospital to discourage an incident like this from happening in the future.
Newsom vetoes bill to regulate private equity transactions in healthcare
Assembly Bill 3129 would have given the California Attorney General oversight of all private equity investments or purchases involving a healthcare entity. Gov. Gavin Newsom argued that a similar regulatory framework is already in place.
FDA announces recall of Pfizer's fast-tracked sickle cell drug
The drugmaker is voluntarily withdrawing Oxbryta from the market due to a higher-than-acceptable risk of death.
Public health coalition wins lawsuit against EPA for lack of fluoride oversight
A federal judge in California ruled existing evidence of the negative effects of fluoride in drinking water warrants an investigation and potential action from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Cardiology groups cheer new bill that would improve access to Medicare claims data
If passed, this bill would help clinician-led clinical registries explore Medicare data for research purposes. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Cardiology both shared public support for the bipartisan legislation.

CMS will allow participants to withdraw from new bundles in March 2019

CMS has announced participants in the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced model will be able to retroactively withdraw beginning in March 2019.

July 10, 2018

Trump attacks Pfizer after drug price increase

President Donald Trump lashed out at drug manufacturer Pfizer after the company raised prices for 100 drugs by an average of 9 percent, effective July 1.

July 10, 2018

Arizona law intended to limit opioid prescriptions may hurt chronic pain patients

States are desperate to act in the national opioid epidemic, but laws limiting opioid prescriptions and doses are negatively impacting chronic pain patients and leaving doctors conflicted about care delivery, NPR reported.

July 10, 2018

Trump administration halts ACA risk adjustment payments, potentially upending insurance markets

On July 7, CMS announced it will stop making risk adjustment payments, which were designed as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help insurers that accept more high-cost patients avoid major losses.

July 9, 2018

CMS delays deadline for opting into bundled-payment initiative

CMS bumped back the due date for providers to opt into the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced model—moving the final date to Aug. 8 from Aug. 1. The move comes in amid growing concerns from those in the industry that claims data were not provided in a timely fashion.

July 6, 2018

CMS approves Oklahoma proposal for value-based Medicaid agreements with drug manufacturers

CMS has issued an approval to Oklahoma to negotiate value-based supplemental rebate agreements directly with drug manufacturers, which could produce extra rebates for state, should clinical outcomes not be achieved.

July 2, 2018

CMS policy to reduce hospital-acquired infections has minimal impact on reimbursement

New research published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology suggests the 2008 CMS’ policy, Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS), which penalizes hospitals for hospital-associated conditions (HAC) present at the time of the patients’ admission to the hospital has had a minimal impact on hospital reimbursement.

July 2, 2018

Medicaid benefits could be cut if work requirements aren't fixed, implemented quickly

On Friday, a federal judge denied Kentucky’s move to impose work requirements on some Medicaid recipients. Now, one Kentucky official claims benefits will be cut if this policy isn't fixed and implemented quickly.

July 2, 2018

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiology groups cheer new bill that would improve access to Medicare claims data

If passed, this bill would help clinician-led clinical registries explore Medicare data for research purposes. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Cardiology both shared public support for the bipartisan legislation.

Cardiovascular Business

Watchdog group, fearful of fraud, wants more oversight for remote patient monitoring

Cardiologists and other physicians may soon need to provide much more information when ordering remote patient monitoring for Medicare patients.

Cardiovascular Business

Most recalled cardiovascular devices gained FDA approval with little to no clinical evidence

Why are so many cardiovascular devices involved in Class I recalls? One possible reason could be the large number of devices hitting the market without undergoing much premarket clinical testing.